Are you seeing more homeless people? They seem to be everywhere

[leftyladyfrommo]

right now. It has just been so cold here in Kansas City the last few days and there they are standing at the bottom of the freeway offramps. Holding their signs: Everything Helps. Godbless.

Makes me feel so guilty because I can't give very much. You know, I don't have a lot. I have a little, tiny house and a little tiny car. But I have a roof and food and transportation and I can afford heat and water. I see those people standing for hours out in this cold and it just breaks my heart.

[area51]

1. Yes.

I've been seeing more homeless ever since the economy cratered in 2001.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bobbolink]

12. Thank you for your judgemental attitude. You can trade places with me, because

I'm sure you'd do a much better job of being homeless than I've been doing.

BUT... at least I have a heart.

[JanMichael]

17. seriously

if this poster is a nurse, s/he should quit, and apologize to his/her patients and school for being a jerk.

I agree with you. My wife pulled herself up by the bootstraps TWICE. Not interested in this garbage.

BTW, how are you?

[bobbolink]

20. Thank you, JanMichael... you don't know how much this kind of crap hurts....

and there is so much of it among "progressives".

And I think they ENJOY hurting people.. it's what they get up in the morning for.

I'm AMAZED.. it was actually removed.

Usually the posts ugly towards poor people are left... it's ACCEPTED

I'm not doing well.. my home (my car) is having problems, and nobody can figure out the reason why. I'm depleted.

Thank you sooo much for your kind words!

:pals:

[JanMichael]

27. you are more than welcome

it's the least we can do. Both Steph and I are sick of the goddamned bullshitters who claimed to have "pulled themselves up by their bootstraps."

Fuck that. They had mighty awesome bootstraps to begin with, eh. Fuckers. Fuck 'em.

I am sorry to hear things aren't going well. I wish there were something we could do. This Christmas is going to be horseshit because we are well fucking aware of the poverty surrounding us; and yet are members of a limosine liberal assed family who keeps giving us "shit" and expects made in Sri Lanka crap in return.

I think that we are going to grow a pair and refuse to participate.

[bobbolink]

45. thank you. It's evidence of how deeply the RW has infected Democratic politics.

And the damage it does to "the least of these".

:hi: :yourock:

[JanMichael]

15. oh get over yourself

my wife did the same and was a paramedic, then she learned how to work in restaurants at night so she could study religion.

Get over it; you couldn't have done it if you weren't healthy. Quit acting like what you did was somehow "noble"-- it wasn't.

We have a roof and heat too-- so what?

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. So you 'pulled yourself up by your own bootstraps" right? What part of a hand up IS NOT A HAND OUT...

don't you get? Also, does this mean any thing to you, 'There but for the grace of (insert whatever you believe in) go I'?

You think that some one who ends up homeless, did not work hard enough, or sacrifice enough, and that is why they are homeless? Lots of factors come into play in one becoming homeless. I hope that you never encounter any of those factors.

[bobbolink]

21. Oh, but the Dems are all sayingn "We all have to sacrifice"

I live in my car, don't have the warmth or anything else I need... what the fuck am I supposed to SACRIFICE?????

MY LIFE? Will that satisfy everyone when we homeless people are all DEAD??? Will that do it?

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. bobbolink, that poster was an asshole and he/she has plenty of company these days.

I might be homeless in the very near future and it will be through no fault of mine. I have worked hard and played by the 'rules' but shit happens and the problem is that this government and many people in this Country not only don't care, but that they place the blame on the victim. That seems to be the ' American' way, 'blame the victim'. It's easier than placing the blame where it really belongs and that is on society at large. It is wrong, very wrong.

[Le Taz Hot]

2. Yes.

And they're not the "regulars" (the ones I'm used to seeing), lots of new faces that don't look like they've been living on the street for very long.

Luckily, when the weather gets to a certain point (35, I think), our city opens up "warming centers" where people can go and spend the night so there's been nobody discovered frozen to death, thank the goddess.

[FSogol]

3. Yes. A lot more day laborers standing around on corners also.

The economy is still pretty good here in No. Va, but the construction industry is grinding to a halt.

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. I give to

organizations that help the homeless rather than giving directly to the folks standing on the street corner holding the signs.

Why? Because when I worked as a money manager I had a high net worth client client who was a trust beneficiary that routinely stood on street corners begging for handouts. It was something of a sport in our office to follow her location from day to day.

[Systematic Chaos]

5. Funny you should mention that.

Vegas is about to hold its 53rd annual convention for the Society of Begging Trust Beneficiaries at the 4th tent past the 11th red shopping basket on the southbound side of Main St. next week.

I'll be sure to pass along your regards!

:popcorn:

[Coyote_Bandit]

6. Ummmm......

It seems to me that you are suggesting that either:
(1) the tale I tell is a lie (by the way, the trust client in question also spent time in prison for stealing bronze artwork); or
(2) I should accept the representations of everyone who wants some of my money at face value and patronize any old street corner beggar without regard to whether he/she has a legitimate need; or
(3) the organizatoins which help the homeless and needy are not deserving of support.

I would ask you to clarify your intent but frankly I do not care because I find all the options offensive and disagreeable. Welome to my ignore list.

[Systematic Chaos]

7. At first, I thought this was too off the hook comical to reply to.

Then I gave it some more thought. I realize you won't see this to reply to it, but "frankly I do not care" either.

It seems to me that you are suggesting that either:
(1) the tale I tell is a lie (by the way, the trust client in question also spent time in prison for stealing bronze artwork)

I never said I don't believe you. After 8 years of * I can believe any kind of screwy behavior.

(2) I should accept the representations of everyone who wants some of my money at face value and patronize any old street corner beggar without regard to whether he/she has a legitimate need

How hard can it be to let these people either expose themselves for morons, or prove they do have a legitimate need? It's very rare for either my wife or I to have any disposable income, but if we are stopping somewhere for a bite or a shopping trip and are approached by someone who says they need food - and are able to spare a couple bucks - we offer to take them in and buy them something! If they say yes, then they were hungry. If they say no then they're probably just saving up for that next 40 oz. in which case we move on. Of course, there is a chance that they might be too proud or whatever to be led into a place and have someone else pay, but we're no more capable of solving for every contingency than you are. My point is that it never hurts to ask.

(3) the organizatoins which help the homeless and needy are not deserving of support.

Well now, I think that there are some excellent charities out there among the many total douchebag ones. Some of them do great work, while others are more interested in shoving "The Lord" (tm) down people's throats, or padding their directors' salaries, than they are actually helping people. Either way, I wasn't kidding when I referred to Main St. in Las Vegas. There is a stretch nearly a mile long, with other enclaves branching off in all directions, which resembles a tent city. This area is occupied by singles, couples and many families with minor children. I can further attest to numerous examples of outright abused children in this town, homeless or not, which this community doesn't do a damn thing for. Anyhow, very little of this changes the fact that in your OP you really seemed to paint all homeless people with a broad brush. Refusing to chip in $8 worth of Value Menu food to a couple with a small child because they just might be that next batch of "trust fund beneficiaries" with a spending phobia is really pushing it.

But then, what do I know? :shrug:

[bobbolink]

14. What *I* find offensive is that you can't express your choice without

denigrating a whole segment of the population.

And I'm sure that you'll have a very pleasant and peaceful reply to this.

So, go ahead and welcome me to your ignore list, also.

[Terran]

9. Giving to both organizations and individuals is good, either way

The organizations NEVER have enough money, even the big ones...and chances are extremely good that if the person begging for money looks like they need it, they really do need it.

[leftyladyfrommo]

42. I have heard that if you know the ropes in Kansas City that you

can find a hot meal. There are a lot of different places that feed each day. And lots of the used clothing stores have days when they sell their stuff for almost nothing so most people can at least find half way decent clothing to wear.

I used to go out to the Catholic Worker House once in a while and help fix the donated food. They never ask any questions - just whoever is in line. But they can't handle a whole lot of people. Their little house just isn't big enough.

Some people on the board really don't like the Catholic Church but their charities are second to none when it comes to feeding and clothing people.

[Terran]

8. In Kansas City...

I manage several million in federal funds to house homeless disabled people in Kansas City, and for the first time in the four years I've been doing this, my grants are all maxxed out...which means I'm at a standstill, I can't house anyone else, and I have at least 130 applications pending. This past summer and fall I saw a big upswing in the number of applications and my waiting list grew from 20 people to almost 70 now. And these are generally not people who are on the street, they're in shelters or transitional housing programs.

The good news is, once Obama's in charge I fully expect to see some major changes in the way we have to business with HUD, and more money to boot. People say you can't fix a problem by throwing money at it, but in fact homelessness is a problem you CAN fix by throwing money at it, if you do it intelligently.

[bobbolink]

16. Please do NOT "fully expect"--- our needs for housing aren't even CONSIDERED now.

Please make note of this thread, write in, and urge everyone you know to do the same.

THAT's what will make it happen!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4509397

Thank you for writing that, and thank you for housing people! :yourock:

[Festivito]

10. Lots of cars with stuff settled in the rear seats.

It's not certain.

But, it's back:

Have you seen the old girl
Who walks the streets of London
Dirt in her hair, clothes all in rags
She's no time for talking,
She just keeps right on walking
Carrying her home in two carrier bags.

So, how can you tell me that you're lonely
And say for you that the sun don't shine
Let me take you by the hand
And lead you through the streets of London
I'll show you something that will make you change your mind.

[sarcasmo]

13. Don't feel guilty, take care of your family.

[balantz]

19. Yes. Slowly but surely I see more and more. n/t

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

23. and what does homeless look like?

The people most impacted by the economic and housing crisis aren't wearing rags and standing under bridges and usually goto extremes to hide their situation.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

24. I noticed several years ago. Maybe, people are becoming more aware because,...

,...their own livelihood is being threatened. It's like, suddenly noticing all the pregnant women when you're pregnant or seeing so many more cancer victims when your family is impacted by it.

We do not SEE what is outside our realm or HEAR what we do not want to hear or acknowledge a reality beyond our own UNLESS WE ARE INTENTIONALLY AWARE of that outside/beyond our own lives. A shameful weakness, really.

[raccoon]

38. Well said!

"We do not SEE what is outside our realm or HEAR what we do not want to hear or acknowledge a reality beyond our own UNLESS WE ARE INTENTIONALLY AWARE of that outside/beyond our own lives."

[deaniac21]

25. Obama will fix this quickly.

[bobbolink]

28. And you know that ..... HOW?????

It ISN"T something that "progressives" are pushing him about, so why in the world would you think he's going to fix it at all, let alone quickly?

Take a look at this thread, and see how few people actually are willing to even write a short note... then tell me again WHY you have so much faith?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4509397

Did YOU write to ask Obama to "fix" the lack of low-income housing???

Will you do so now, and ask others to do so?

[a la izquierda]

26. I'm living in Mexico at the moment.

The poverty I see daily is astounding. I probably gave out $10 in change today. Mostly, I see women with babies and it so, so heartbreaking. I feel so miserable for anyone who is homeless.
I said today that I can't wait to go home. I need a break from seeing such misery-it has actually taken a toll on my mental health. In Oklahoma, I don't see much homelessness and the economy hasn't tanked yet.

[bobbolink]

29. You're welcome to come live with me and experience my homelessness firsthand.

[a la izquierda]

31. Please tell me something I can do to help you...

because there isn't much I can do in Mexico, since I'm not a citizen and can't volunteer (and I'm leaving in a few days).
I'm a grad student and don't have the financial means to do much, but I wasn't trying to belittle you in anyway, so please do not take offense. I'm really, really sorry for you.

[bobbolink]

35. There is much you can do.

There's a lot you can do, from wherever you are, and here are two important beginning steps:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4656815

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4509397 (yes, the topic is closed, but the information is all there, and it's very easy to make your voice heard on the issue of low-income housing in the richest country in the world)

You can also do much to promote this issues among USians, and urge them to take action. It really isn't hard, it doesn't take ANY money, and it takes very little time... less time than it took to say that people are poorer in Mexico.

The reason why taking a thread about the poverty in the US and turning it around to poverty in other countries is offensive, is because people are DYING right here in the US of poverty, but most people dont' want to see that. It's MUCH easier to deal with it at a distance.

Yet, we are suffering and dying.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4656685

Is our suffering and death of less value?

We are shoved aside and ignored.... then called "mentally ill" because being treated in that shabby manner is depressing.

[a la izquierda]

37. Okay...I wasn't trying to make it about Mexico...

to lessen the effects of what people experience in the United States. I was simply making an observation about where I am, and what I see currently. I'm not in the US and I haven't been for quite some time. It's not a competition of who has the poorer population... But my sister was homeless for a long time, and I have had good friends who have been homeless for varying lengths of time. While I have never been homeless myself and I can't understand how you struggle, I am not trying to demonize homelessness in the US because of what I see in Mexico. My comments were simply observations. I'll leave it at that and I do not wish to argue with you.

Anyway, I will send off some emails today.
Thanks for the information and good luck to you.

[a la izquierda]

40. Sent off emails to my Senators and my Rep.

Can't say it will do much, as my Senators are Coburn and Inhofe, and my Rep is Tom Cole. But, weirder things have happened.

[bobbolink]

44. Thank you! The RW has to be reminded, too.

If the RW was hounded by THOUSANDS of demands for a safety net, it WOULD make a difference.

Your efforts are very much appreciated! :hi:

[leftyladyfrommo]

39. I've heard other people say the same thing.

I knew a couple who sold their home and bought a sailboat and sailed all around. They finally just came home because the third world poverty was so awful. Just looking at the pictures is overwhelming.

[LisaL]

30. I don't know if there are more but there is a guy here who lives

behind a dumpster. There are also people with signs asking for money but I don't know if those are actually homeless.

[InkAddict]

32. K&R - to keep the issue visible n/t

[Hannah Bell]

33. in the last year, the number of trailers in my neighborhood - parked in back/side yards & alleys -

has boomed.

some fairly nice, others junkers. cheap living spaces.

[ColbertWatcher]

34. There will be many more in Wilmington, Ohio (half their total population) ...

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-12-15-wilmington-dhl-abx-air-layoffs_N.htm

[Tommy_Carcetti]

36. Last year I saw homeless people at the intersections in my 5,000 population hometown

Living in 6 million plus South Florida now, I very sadly see that on every expressway off-ramp all the time, but I was pretty shocked to see that in a small town environment.

I admit I do end up giving them some money if I can. Even if it goes to buy alcohol, I guess it doesn't really bother me that much--I just couldn't imagine being forced to live in such a situation and it breaks my heart that some people have to.

[leftyladyfrommo]

41. I don't worry about what they use the money for. I have no way

of knowing. I just hope they use it for a warm meal or something else they might need.

I did read about a police officer that carried McDonald's coupons to hand out instead of money. That way they were more likely to go get food.

[psychmommy]

43. i have noticed more homeless.

the building i used to work in had different nooks and crannies that people would come to sleep in. it is the saddest situation. there are benches where people come to sleep at night. i had my daughter at work one day and she was able to see people sleeping on the street. i hope that image stays with her. we need to remember how blessed we are to have a roof and family that would give us a roof if needed. my heart hurts for anyone homeless, especially when it rains and snows. my prayers go out to our homeless brothers and sisters, i am one paycheck away from homeless, if i lost my job or even got sick, that could be me.